Girls Basketball: Kennedy Extends Winning Streak Over Jefferson

By Jeff Linder, Reporter

Kennedy junior guard Jordan Holmes fights to keep her balance under the defense of Jefferson senior guard Kaitlyn Davidson during the girls high school basketball game at Jefferson on Friday, January 4, 2012. (Kyle Grillot/The Gazette-KCRG)

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By Grant Burkhardt

Story Created: Jan 4, 2013 at 11:49 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jan 4, 2013 at 11:49 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The names and the faces have changed, on the floor and on the bench.

But one thing remains the same -- Cedar Rapids Kennedy still has Cedar Rapids Jefferson's number in girls' basketball, and that number has grown to 11.

Off the rim and on the floor, the Cougars were simply quicker to the ball and downed the J-Hawks, 54-42, in a non-conference girls' basketball game between the Metro rivals Friday night at Jefferson High School.

"We had a lot of bounce and looked really fresh out there," Kennedy Coach Tony Vis said after the Cougars (6-2) broke a two-game losing streak and defeated the J-Hawks for the 11th straight time. "Whether it was tipping a pass or getting a rebound, whatever ... that's something we really emphasized over the break."

Jefferson (3-8) suffered a blow in pregame warmups, when Taylor Jacobson apparently sprained an ankle. She did not play.

"I think it took us a while to get comfortable," Jefferson Coach Jason Edwards said. "It took some adjusting for us after Taylor went down."

The J-Hawks got out to a 10-5 lead, then the Cougars started created havoc in the passing lanes and turned the game in their favor for good.

Kennedy led 16-14 by the end of the first quarter, then closed the half with a 14-3 run for a 35-23 advantage at intermission.

"We really tried to attack the basket," Kennedy's Stephanie Botkin said. "All intracity games are a big deal, and we really wanted to come out strong."

The Cougars pushed the margin to 15 by the end of the third quarter.

Jordan Holmes scored 11 points to lead the Cougars, and Paige Hendrickson added 10. Botkin provided 11 rebounds to go with seven points.

Maddie Koolbeck paced Jefferson with 11 points; Kaitlyn Davidson scored 10.

Vis said before the game that junior post Morgan Martin suffered "a setback" and won't be available until mid- to late January.

Martin sustained a knee injury Nov. 30 and hasn't played since. She was on crutches Friday.

Kennedy hosts Waukee on Saturday. Jefferson is off until Tuesday, when it plays at Waterloo East.